PM Meso Legal Help for Mesothelioma Victims

Asbestos

Since the 1800s, asbestos has been used as an insulation material in homes and buildings across the United States and around the world, providing protection against the cold, heat and noise. It has been mass produced for centuries.

Widespread usage occurred during WWII and afterward, as it was popular for several reasons: it was durable, inexpensive, plentiful, fire-resistant and electrical-resistant. Just some of the things asbestos was used in included concrete, pipes, drywall, decorative material sprayed on walls and roofing. A large amount of asbestos used in home construction was to insulate the attic.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of silicate minerals that are fibrous and can be found on every continent around the world. These minerals are chrysotile (aka serpentine), considered one main type, and the other, amphibole, which includes crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Any one of these can be used as a construction material. In 1980, the use of asbestos peaked at 4.7 million metric tonnes1. In fact, despite the ill effects to our health, several countries still have thriving asbestos industries.

Contact options

Get answers and peace of mind. Speak to a mesothelioma lawyer now.

Call: 1-866-594-2279

man touching asbestos fibers
Asbestos is a natural mineral. iStock.com/fiveheart

However, the widespread usage of asbestos was not without its faults. In the early 1900s, hospitals witnessed a number of asbestos miners suffering from severe lung problems. Deaths were also reported. In the 1970s, medical research found that asbestos posed a serious threat to our health, so much so that it is now considered a human carcinogen.

With this evidence, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to limit the use and manufacture of asbestos.

1973: A ban on spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing material for fireproofing/insulating purposes was instituted.

1975: A ban on the installation of asbestos pipe insulation and asbestos block insulation on facility components, if the materials are either pre-formed (molded) and friable or wet-applied and friable after drying.

1978: A ban on spray-applied surfacing materials for purposes not already banned.

1977: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in artificial fireplace embers and wall patching compounds.

1989: Most asbestos-containing products were banned.

1991:The 1989 rule was vacated and remanded by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in the majority of the original ban on the manufacture, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce for the majority of the asbestos-containing products originally covered in the 1989 final rule to be overturned.

What is banned now

Currently, there is a US federal ban, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), on asbestos in these six categories:

  • corrugated paper
  • commerical paper
  • specialty paper
  • rollboard
  • flooring felt
  • any products that do not historically contain asbestos (referred to as “new uses” of asbestos)2

It is important to note, however, that asbestos is not banned entirely. Products such as clothing, vinyl floor tile, roof and non-roofing coatings, as well as cement pipes can still contain, and be manufactured with, asbestos.

Don't touch it!

If you find asbestos, it’s best to not touch it. You can have it removed and replaced by a professional, or simply leave it alone if it’s in good condition. Asbestos is not dangerous when intact. It is only dangerous when disturbed, causing fibres to be released into the air where they can be inhaled (friable).

Once it’s been used, asbestos is disposed of as hazardous waste. Sometimes, it is also recycled to make silicate glass. As glass, it is harmless.

Other health problems caused by asbestos

In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos exposure can cause a number of other serious health problems.

  • lung cancer
  • throat cancer
  • stomach cancer
  • colon and rectum cancer
  • ovarian cancer
  • asbestosis
  • disorders affecting the pleura, the thin layer that surrounds the lung and inner cavity: examples include pleuritis (excessive inflammation), pleural effusions (excess fluid buildup) and pleural plaques.

Footnotes

1. Virta RL. Worldwide asbestos supply and consumption trends from 1900 through 2003. Circular 1298. Reston: United States Geological Survey; 2006. p. 80.
2. US Federal Bans on Asbestos

Contact options

We understand the pressures of caring for a loved one. If sending an email works better for you than calling us, please use the contact form now.

I got my settlement letter on Wednesday. It’s a day I honestly never actually thought I would see. I wanted to sincerely thank you and your team for all of your hard work and time. I think it’s also important that you hear how much your work not only made a financial difference for my family to catch up from all of the medical expenses, but more importantly, that we don't have to worry about our financial future with my husband being gone. — Jen D.